Wood retires after 48 years

Sallisaw Superintendent Randy Wood became emotional Friday after he was presented with an appreciation plaque from incoming superintendent Steve Barrett for 48 years of service in the Sequoyah County education system.

Wood, who will retire completely at the end of June, was presented the plaque during a reception held Friday in the Sallisaw Middle School cafeteria where friends and acquaintances stopped by and congratulated him on his retirement.

“For 48 years I’ve woke up in the morning and put on my boots and went to work. Next thing you know 48 years has gone by. When you enjoy something you’re doing, you never think about it. The years have gone by fast,” Wood said to the crowd, who had gathered for the event.

A native of Sallisaw, Wood, 70, attended school at Sallisaw and after graduating in 1971, he began his studies at Connors State College where he earned his associates. He furthered his education at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in physical education. He later returned to NSU to gain a masters in PE, and a second masters in administration.

Wood began teaching science and coaching at Sallisaw. He began his career at Sallisaw schools in 1974 as an intern, saying his goal was to work with Perry F. Lattimore. Wood said he worked his way up to assistant principal at Sallisaw before becoming superintendent at Roland, where he worked in that school district for 18 years before coming to Sallisaw in 2019.

Wood said he was proud to work in Sallisaw when he began his teaching career. During those years, he coached track and football, and his Black Diamonds team won back-to-back football state championships in 1980 and ’81, he said. He was later promoted to assistant superintendent, and worked in that capacity for four years before taking a job at Roland as the superintendent. He returned to Sallisaw four years ago to serve as the superintendent.

“I’ve made a full circle returning to work in Sallisaw where I first began my career,” he said. “I love what I do. I could have retired 19 years ago but I just enjoyed what I was doing so I kept working,” Wood said. Wood said he does not have any concrete plan for retirement.

“My wife and I have both been blessed with health and I’m not going to say we’re not going to travel but we’re just gonna take it as it comes.” Wood and his wife of 47 years, Carol, have a daughter and three grandsons. The couple has made Sallisaw their home for 49 years.

“Those grandchildren are my life. I plan to spend more time with them and just enjoy my retirement,” he said.

“I’m not going to say I’m retired now and I’m gonna be a fisherman, but I may do some fishing,” he said.

Wood said there are three phases of life he’s lived by.

“The first phase is a learning phase, school and hard knocks,” he said. “ The second is a working phase, which includes working and raising a family. The third is retirement, and you just hope you’re healthy enough to enjoy it.

“I’ve been lucky in health, and just want to enjoy life while I can,” he said.

“This is the first September since 1958 I’m not planning to return to school. I started school in 1958, and have been planning on returning every September since then.

“I appreciate all the people whom I have been fortunate to work with. I enjoyed working with each and every one of them,” he said. “I just hope I left the wood pile a little bit bigger than when I found it. I enjoyed what I did every day.”